Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-12-24
OUR YOUNG MEN.
With Religion Their Honor Of God ana
Their own Sense Of Morais-Ths
T. n. o. A. Anniversary
In This City.

Nearly everybody In Carksviiie is aware OF
the fact that the beautiful Methodist church
building was crowded last Sunday evening
with the good people OF the city to hear about
the origin and progress OF the Young Mems
Christian Association. The occasion was the
anniversary of the establishment OF this
body In Clarksville.
PRESIDENT FAxoN's ADDRKss.
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS: IL IL hardly me-
cessary TO consume the time by going into an
elaborate history OF the Y. M. A. viii
commence my report by merely stating that
the main object OF these associations is the
saving OF young men by young men. In
order 10 accomplish this the Associations
have sought 10 promote not only their spir-
itual welfare by devotional meeting and
Bible classes, but their intellectual welfare by
libraries and reading rooms and their physl-
cal welfare by the agency OF the gymnasium.
The saving ofsouls Is what the entire Chriis
tian world Is striving for. How best to reach
the young men has been the most difficult
problem to solve. Ministers of the Gospel
and officers OF our churches Will tell You that
this work Is the most difficult TO which the
themselves. The thickest part OF this fight Is
the place for Christian young men TO he
found. AS young men are most easily led to
follow the bent Of their wicked natures by
immoral young men 1t Is readily TO be sup
posed that the same rule will work In the OPP
posite direction II moral young men will use
their best endeavors to lead their comrades to
higher plane-a Christian life.
An effort to overthrow the prevailing idea
amongst young men that they live for the
pleasure OF this world only, and to seek such
pleasures they must become immoral is no
easy task to accomplish.
1t requires not only the earnest appeal OF a
mother, the sympathetic tear of sister or
the stern command OF father, but 1t needs
more potent influence to draw them from
the scenes of their midnight revelry and to
break the ties which bind them TO q dissolute
life.
To accomplish this, as we'll as to promote
evangelical religion and inaugurate Chris
tian sympathy and fraternal feeling among
all members Of all religious denominations,
are the chief aims of the Y. M. @. A.
The present organization Of the Y. M. 9. A.
In Clarksville is but a year old. The two pre-
'''ors failures TO establish permanently Y.
y in our midst have to no little extent,
lr,ia our work from having caused dis
llu The work In the minds Of some of our
most earnest Christian workers. We are now
led to believe that God is surely with us In
the good work. At times many OF US have
been greatly discouraged, but by the use OF
earnest prayer, the best weapon the Christian
warrior has at his command to ward off the
attacks of the OWL one, we have received a
powerful aid to enable us to foster our ener-
giles, strengthen our faith and to urge as to be
faithful to the end. We believe by the grace
Of God the Y. M. q. A. of Clarksville is now
an assured success To make this assurance
doubly sure we need the encouragement OF the
older church members, the pastors, the faith
ers, mothers and sisters to aid us in sustaining
| in our midst an jnstitution so well calculated
to improve the morals and increase the intel.
ligence of our young men. AS may be seen
from the treasurer's report we owe no debt,
but have small balance at our credit In
bank.
1t has been hard struggle to keep within
the means at hand and but for the noble
work performed by the Young Ladies' Auxili-
ary Society was would probably have fallen In
the contest. Time and again has this auxili
ary to our work, by their own efforts, lifted III
over the shoals of debt. 1.-THE last at the cross
and the nrst at the tomb OF our blessed Saw
or" Woman has always been the first Il
labor for His Kingdoms success and the las,
to surrender to the enemy. We want every
Christian young lady In Clarksville to enlist
In this work. But we come before you to
night uttaring In all sincerity the Macedonif
cry. "Coine, over and help u.s." We need
money. books, moro rooms, more new mem
bers and more Of the prayers Of all good
Christians for larger portion Of succees
Our expenses grow each year and the member
ship fees are exhausted In meeting oul
current expenses. The money to pur
chase new books, more apparatus for oul
gymnasium snd 10 pay the subscription
for our newspapers and periodicals mus
como from some other sources than member
ship fees This matter has not before beer
presented to tho people Of this place for thu
reason that We preferred to wait and see 4
| tho Association was on O flrm foundation
| We are confident that the time has nov
come when the fathers and mothers o
Clarksville should open their hearts ans
purses to furnish the necessary means TO In
sure our usefulness as an Association.
The membership Of the Association has In
creased to ly5. The devotional exercises hav'
been we'll attended. The gymnasium ha.
proved to be quite an attraction for our mem
bers where numbers of them congregate a
might 10 improve their physical condition.
| 1t Is to be hoped that the Christian people
Of Clarksville will respond literally to oui
call. To the members Of the Association !
would say. let Us cultivate that brotheriy
love and Christian fellowship among our
selves which, viii effectuaily eradicate any
ssctarian lines that bigotry may have drawn
and with one liberalization lot az press for
ward with our work with one common aim
In view. and that the advancement OF Christi
kingdom upon earth. by the saving OF young
| mon.
Iwill nov read the rreasurer'srspori, which
| is a. follows:
l 1Succ .s-foB 70
Lcciu - IN w
Ladies' Auxiliary soctety............ 2ll II
subscription 10 rOoinS-... ....-... 28i 90
oaio OF "
II. -